Brush holder



May 4,1937. GREAN 2,079,285

BRUSH HOLDER Filed Oct. 19, 1935 l INVENTOR Alexandre Mfirean Patented May 4, 1937 UNETED GFFEQE BRUSH HOLDER Application October 19, 1935, Serial No. 45,740

1 Claim.

My present invention relates to holders, and more particularly to an improved holder for brushes and the like.

My present holder has been designed primarily as a holder and/or container for brushes such as shaving brushes, but is capable of more general application than a mere holder for such type of brushes, and it is within the scope of my invention to utilize my holder for a number of different purposes.

With regard to shaving brushes, it is a wellknown fact that such brushes are diificult to keep in prime condition, due to the fact that in use they are wet and remain wet after being used. The customary way to store or hold such brushes until the next period of use, is to place them, bristles down, in a shaving mug or cup, or stand them on a shelf with the bristles up. In the first of such contingencies, the bristles are deformed so that, in a relatively short time, the brush becomes useless. In the second of such contingencies, the bristles, regardless of the fact that they may be set in rubber or other material, are in such a position that the moisture seeps into the setting of the bristles and, it is notorious that, within a relatively short time, the bristles are destroyed and the brush rendered useless.

With a view to remedying such conditions, I have devised the subject matter of my present invention, and have devised a holder or container which will securely hold the brush in the natural position for drainage-that is, with the bristles extending downwardly-and hold such brush with the bristles suspended in air, and as so constructed, the holder or container permits circulation of air about the bristles, rapidly causing the drying of same, and keeping the brush in prime condition. Further, my device is so constructed that the brush, such as the shaving brush, is readily inserted into proper position, as aforesaid, and when inserted within the holder the brush may be as readily removed therefrom; when so inserted, the brush is held in position against accidental removal.

As appears, preferred embodiments of my invention include a holder provided at its top with relatively stationary, mutually spaced, radially inwardly extending, resilient fingers, the inner apices of said fingers normally defining an opening less than the diameter or cross-sectional area of the body of the brush, whereby upon insertion of the body of the brush, advantageously upwardly through the holder, such finger assembly functions to suspend the brush, with the bristles projecting downwardly and free and clear of the support upon which the holder rests, the clearances afforded by the mutual spacing of such fingers providing for free passage and consequent circulation of the air, effectively removing moisture from the bristles.

A feature of my invention therefore, is an improved holder for holding a shaving brush in position to prevent injury to the bristles either from mechanical or chemical causes.

A further feature of my invention is an improved holder in which the brush is maintained in proper position, and with the bristles free from engagement with either the surface of the holder or the surface on which the holder rests.

A further feature of my invention resides in the construction of the holder which induces a free circulation of air about a freely suspended brush.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of my invention, showing a shaving brush in position therein;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the lower part of a holder showing a modified form of such lower parts;

Fig. i is an elevation of the lower part of a holder embodying my invention, partly in section and showing a modified form of lower part of skirt, and

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the upper part of an improved holder embodying my invention, showing another form of the brush-holding elements.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, l9 designates a holder body of relatively thin material, substantially frusto-oonical in form. Such body is, as desired, made transparent, translucent or opaque, and may be of such material as celluloid, bakelite, metal, or any other material desired.

At various points around the body and adjacent preferably to the lower edge thereof, are a plurality of perforations H, such perforations being desirable as a means for permitting air to pass from the outer atmosphere into the interior of the body. The shape of such perforations H is immaterial. In the drawing they are shown substantially circular in shape.

In Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown at the upper end of the body H], a plurality of inwardly extending fingers i2, which in the drawing referred to, are formed integral with the body portion iii, but obviously may be made separate therefrom and attached to the upper end of the body in any suitable manner. Such fingers I2 terminate at a point short of the center of the top of the body l0, and define a substantially circular passage l3, the eifective diameter of which appreciably less than the diameter or cross-sectional area of the body of the brush, through which may be readily projected, because of the resilient character of the fingers l2, the upper part of the handle I4 of a shaving brush, the bristles l5 of which are indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1'. Such brush may be readily inserted in the position shown in Fig. 1, by pushing the brush upwardly from the open bottom of the body It), deflecting the inner ends of the fingers l2 by the head l4, until the head portion 14 as shown, is in the position shown in Fig. l.

The fingers l2 converge, respectively, from base to tip, and extend generally inwardly and upwardly from the upper end of the body I0, and therefore, while resilient, they are amply stiff enough to prevent the weight of the shaving brush from pulling the head l4 downwardly, out of engagement therewith. The height of the body I is such that when the brush is in position as shown in Fig. l, the lower ends of the bristles keep well clear of any support of which the body may be placed.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the body II! is made of a'single strip of material, brought to the desired form and size, and the abutting edges overlapping and secured together in any convenient manner. Such overlapping edges are indicated by the reference number it. Such a method of construction however is merely as a matter of convenience and it is obvious that I may make the body H] in tubular form as by casting the same in a mold, which would in the case of bakelite be a preferred method. The showing therefore in Figs. 1 and 2, is illustrative only.

It will be noted from inspection of Figs. 1 and 2, that the fingers l2 are separated from each other, therefore providing ample space between the fingers through which air may circulate. With the brush in position therefore, as illustrated in Fig. 1, air passing through the perforations II, will circulate about the bristles l5 and pass upwardly through the space between the fingers l2, or it is possible that the direction of such air may be reversed. In any event, the circulation of air will rapidly and efiiciently remove the moisture from the bristles l5, and the position of the bristles l5, in Fig. 1 will assist in removing water therefrom.

In place of the perforations H as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, I may provide the lower or skirt portion of the body ill with a plurality of notches l'l, thus. providing a serrated lower edge for such body I II, and this construction is also within the scope of my invention.

Where the body m is built of relatively light material as in the case of celluloid, I may for the purpose of adding stiffness and stability to such body, form a roll bead l8, on the lower end of such body.

Referring now to Fig. 5, there is shown, the fingers I2 of relatively the same form as the fingers l2 illustrated in Fig. l, but such fingers have their joining portions with respect to the upper end of the body It), on a considerable are as indicated by the reference numeral l9, rather than by the sharp edge as indicated by the reference numeral 20 in Fig. 1.

Various other modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and as the structure shown in the drawing is illustrative of my invention merely, I am not to be limited to the construction shown.

I claim:

A brush holder comprising a hollow, substantially frusto-conical integral body structure of thin, resilient material, the said body structure having its uppermost edge serrated to form a plurality of closely spaced fingers converging, respectively, from base to tip, said fingers being bent inwardly toward one another at less than a right angle, and being of such length that, when bent, they terminate short of the axial center of the body structure to afford an opening for the insertion of a brush handle.

ALEXANDRE M. GREAN. 

